Mepham student is Miss Long Island Teen

When Mepham High School sophomore Sabrina Mastrangelo saw a cruel post online about one of her older classmates, she said she was disgusted and vowed to make her peers aware of the dangers of cyber-bullying. With that platform in mind, she entered the Miss Long Island Teen competition, hoping to raise awareness about her cause.

Mastrangelo, 15, of North Bellmore was passionate about bringing attention to cyber-bullying, but she said she was shocked when she was named Miss Long Island Teen at the Patchogue Theatre in early August. “My mouth fell open,” the teen reflected. Mastrangelo joined Jessica Pinckney of Manhasset as Queens of Long Island for 2012.

The Miss Long Island Pageant was only the second such competition for Mastrangelo, who placed in the Top 20 last year at the Miss New York Teen pageant, sponsored by the Trump Organization. The teen said she received an application for the Miss Teen New York pageant in the mail and decided to send in her headshot. To her surprise, Mastrangelo received a call back and was asked for her biography and more information. Placing in the Top 20 encouraged her to pursue other pageant opportunities, Mastrangelo said. “I accomplished something for my first time, so I wanted to do it again,” she said.

Though it was only Mastrangelo’s second pageant, she is no stranger to the stage. She has been involved with Mepham’s theater program since her first day as a freshman and was active in theater at Grand Avenue Middle School. Mastrangelo, who lived in East Rockaway until fifth grade, began acting at an early age. “Being on stage comes naturally,” she said.

Now that she holds the Miss Long Island Teen title, Mastrangelo is ready to get to work and has already started giving back. When a Bellmore family lost most of their possessions in a house fire recently, Mastrangelo joined with Pinckney to help. The queens went to local businesses, seeing if anyone might be able to donate clothing and supplies to aid the family. The duo is still collecting donations for the family and hopes to get them back into their home as soon as possible.